EVESHAM UNITED FC SQUAD 2023-24
Management Profiles
Mike Ford – Manager
Mike, as a player represented Cardiff City and Oxford United, clocking up close to 500 league appearances, gaining two promotions during that time. Following retirement due to injury, Mike has managed Oxford United (twice in caretaker roles) and was also assistant manager there for a period. He then went on to manage Oxford City, (2009-2014) leading them to promotion to the National League Southern Division. He then moved to Banbury United (2015-2020) where he gained promotion from Evesham’s level in 2016, before establishing them in the Premier Division from that point. He helped manage St. Ives Town last season.
Mike is a UEFA A licensed coach, who has experience working with and developing young players, including being the Oxford United Youth Team Manager.
Alex Sykes – Assistant Manager
In May 2011, Alex was appointed as manager of Bishop’s Cleeve. In his first season as manager, he led Bishop’s Cleeve to the club’s then record high league finish of 11th in the Southern League South & West
At the end of his second season as boss, in April 2013, he stepped down from his role as manager at the club. In May 2013 he became joint-manager at fellow Southern League club Shortwood United alongside John Evans. He would eventually take sole charge of the club following the retirement of John Evans at the end of the 2015-16 season. After leading the side for the 2016-17 season, he left Shortwood in April 2017. In January 2018, Alex was appointed as assistant manager Redditch United. In October 2021 he was appointed manager of Cinderford Town and left at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Alex started his playing career in the Football League with Mansfield Town. However he is best known for his time at Forest Green Rovers from 1996 to 2004 where he played 295 times scoring 73 goals in two spells and a loan. He was also a fans favourite at Gloucester City where he scored 60 goals in 160 appearances. Alex played for other teams such as Nuneaton Borough, Bath City and Bishops Cleeve. He is a former England Futsal international.
Mike Byrne – Coach
Mike is a vastly experienced and highly qualified coach. Mike is a FA Coach Developer and is the holder of the UEFA A licence for outfield and goalkeeping. He has previously held coaching positions with Forest Green Rovers’ first team and the youth academies at Bristol Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Swindon Town, as well as a number of non-league sides. Mike currently works full-time with Forest Green Rovers based in the Academy.
Dan Head – Goalkeeping Coach
Lewis O’Loughlin – Performance Analyst
Matt Webb – Therapist
Laurence O’ Shaughnessy – Kitman
Player Profiles
Ben Taylor – Goalkeeper
Ben was a youth team player at MK Dons and Cambridge United. Has also played for North Leigh, Gloucester City and Oxford City. He studied in the United States and played football for the American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He joined Banbury at the start of last season.
Daniel Djurovic – Defender
Daniel joined from Redditch United, for whom he has made 19 appearances. Daniel is a defender who was previously in the academy at Birmingham City FC.
Michael O’ Regan – Defender
Michael played for Stratford Town last season and is a product of their Academy. He has also appeared for FC Stratford and Bishops Cleeve.
Keon Sanniola – Defender (On-Loan)
17 year-old Keon is on loan from Forest Green Rovers and has one appearance in the EFL Trophy.
Conor Taylor – Defender
Plays mainly as a left back. In 2018 he attended collegiate powerhouse Missouri Valley College in America. He enjoyed a successful five seasons in the states, where he won the NAIA Nationals in May 2021 which was Missouri Valleys first ever National title. In October 2022 he captained the side to win the Heart of America Conference title.
Jordan Lymn – Midfielder
Jordan started his career with League One side Cheltenham Town. Whilst at Whaddon Road, he had loan spells at Bishops Cleeve, Shortwood United and North Leigh. He initially signed for Evesham in June 2017 but returned to North Leigh on a more permanent basis five months later. He returned to Evesham in the summer of 2018 but left for Westfields before returning to Evesham once more in July 2020. He switched to Southern Division One Central outfield Cirencester Town in the summer of 2022.
Aaron Heap – Midfielder
Aaron represented Northern Ireland at youth international level. He began his career with Kidlington, signing on a scholarship for Oxford United n April 2016. He made his senior debut on 6 November 2018, in the EFL Trophy.
He joined North Leigh and then signed for Banbury United in August 2020. He returned to North Leigh where he was a regular in the past two seasons, making 69 appearances.
Ben Hammett – Midfielder
Ben arrived at the club from Yate Town and is another talent to emerge from Hartpury University. Ben is a midfielder hailing from Bury St Edmonds. He spent time with AFC Sudbury before his move to Yate.
Amer Awadh – Midfielder
In his mid-twenties, Amer Awadh is an attacking midfielder who came through the youth system at Oxford City, playing primarily for their Nomads side, though he progressed to make a few first team appearances.
He had been playing for Fanja SC in Oman prior to joining Banbury United in February 2018, whom he made 84 appearances for. In 2021-22 he started the season at Nuneaton Borough before moving to North Leigh later that term. For the Oxfordshire outfit he turned out on 70 occasions scoring 6 goals, up to the end of last season.
Alfie Dunn – Midfielder
Alfie has moved from United Counties League Premier Division South side Easington Sports. He came through the Sports` youth section.
Ethan Moran – Midfielder
Midfielder Ethan signed from Worcester City where he had played 15 times and scored two goals. He signed for Stourbridge in August 2021 and chalked up 44 appearances (17 + 27 sub) for the Club during his thirteen-month stay and scored three times.
He had previously progressed through the youth and reserve ranks into the first team at Worcester City in 2018/19. He had a couple of loan stints at Malvern Town before making the move on a more permanent basis during the 2019/20 season. He was also involved with the Kidderminster Harriers academy set-up and had linked up with Lye Town in October 2020.
Will Owens – Midfielder
Will has now joined us on a permanent basis.18 year-old Will came on loan from Oxford United in February and played for us mainly on the left wing.
Freddy Willcox – Midfielder (On-loan)
The midfielder has joined the club from Cheltenham Town on work experience forms. The 17 year old appeared in the Football League Trophy at Bristol Rovers this season.
Myles Simpson – Forward
Myles has previously played for Halesowen Town and Worcester City.
Levi Steele – Forward
Levi is a prolific striker who certainly knows where the back of the net is.
FC Stratford secured the services of the forward at the start of the 2021/22 season. In 19 appearances he scored 16 goals. He moved to Easington Sports at the end of November 2021. He joined North Leigh in February 2022 scoring 16 goals in 19 games until the end of that season. Levi moved to Pershore Town towards the end of last season scoring 9 goals in 12 matches, helping them to win the league.
Zack Hodges – Forward
The 22 year-old forward joins us from Whaddon Rovers.